Authentic Mexican Cooking with a Gastronomic Historian

"Lucia and her food were one of the highlights of our trip! Lucia's kitchen is welcoming, clean, well-appointed, and fascinating. Her home was gorgeous and it was such a pleasure to enjoy our meal in her backyard. My boyfriend and I love to cook, and not only did she send us the recipes, but she answered every question we asked and we have ideas about how to recreate these recipes where we're from and use alternate ingredients. Our only regret was having a snack before we got there. Go hungry and ask questions! Lucia was wonderful and we'd happily re-book this the next time we're in CDMX."

"Cooking with Lucia was a great experience, we had a lot of fun but also learned a lot about Mexican food and culture in general. Being able to enjoy the food we cooked sitting at a table in the garden was the perfect final touch! Lucia was very knowledgeable and kind to accommodate the menu to out vegetarian preference. If you are looking for an authentic experience and not the standard cooking class in a studio in the city centre I would definitely recommend!"

"Cooking class with Lucia was an incredible experience that was the highlight of our trip to Mexico City. Not only did we learn to make delicious traditional food (salsas, pork adobo, tortillas, sopes, and more) while laughing and enjoying each others company — but we also felt welcomed into Lucia’s home. We entered strangers and left friends. The length of the class (~3 hrs) was perfect and left time to do other activities, such as visiting nearby San Angel Inn or the Frida Kahlo museum a short ride away. I would strongly recommend this activity to anyone traveling to Mexico City"

"Lucia and her assistant Eva are wonderful teachers! They made us feel comfortable as we helped prepare the delicious pozole meal. The simple ingredients made for great bursts of flavor! We didn’t just stand around: We cleaned corn; made tortillas; deseeded chili peppers; chopped tomatoes and tomatillos, stirred sauce; made nopales salad; and, helped make a Guayaba (or guava) dessert. We drank wine and quickly ate the delicious tacos Lucia and Eva made using homemade tortillas, Chapulines (grasshoppers), avocado, and green salsa. This was our second cooking experience with Lucia and Eva. We enjoyed ourselves as much as we did during our 2018 experiences. We’ll return again soon."

"My entire family loved this tour. We enjoyed the mercado, which was off the tourist radar. Lucia was very friendly and communicative, even before our trip started. We had fun cooking with her, and we tried a few ingredients that we had never heard of before. I highly recommend this experience!"

"This was a highlight of our trip. Lucia graciously invited us into her home and garden and taught us to make several authentic Mexican dishes. We were given 3 choices for a main dish and we chose stuffed poblanos and Mexican rice. We also made sopes with chorizo, fresh corn tortillas, 3 types of stuffed fried quesadillas, a red and a green salsa, and a poached guava dessert. We enjoyed our meal in Lucia’s beautiful garden. Lucia is sophisticated and warm and she was so helpful in helping us plan other unique experiences during our stay. I hope to cook with her again one day on a return trip to Mexico City. Overall, the experience exceeded my expectations."

"This was a highlight of our trip. Lucia graciously welcomed us into her beautiful home and garden and taught us to cook several authentic Mexican dishes. We were given 3 choices on a main dish and we settled on a stuffed poblano and Mexican rice. We also made sopes with chorizo, 3 types of fried quesadilla, red and green salsas, and a wonderful poached guava dessert. Lucia is sophisticated and warm and she was so helpful in helping us plan other unique experiences to explore more of Mexico City during the remainder of or trip. I hope to cook with her again on a return trip to Mexico City."

"Unforgettable experience in Luisa's kitchen that I would recommend to any group who loves traditional Mexican cooking. We gained so much from the moment we shopped with Luisa at Sam Angel's market, to collaborating at her kitchen island to create delicious recipes, to sitting down in her pretty garden to enjoy our many tasty creations. Thank you Chef Luisa for teaching us fundamental Mexican cooking skills we will cherish always."

"This was a unique and fun experience on our trip to Mexico City. We made sopes, quesadillas, stuffed chilies, and rice. All of the food was delicious and it was interesting to learn each step in the cooking process. Lucia was welcoming and easy to talk to, we really enjoyed our time with her."

"We had an amazing cooking experience! It was super fun, informative and Lucia made sure to teach us anything we wanted to know! Her place is beautiful and the conversation never lagged. We loved her and have been talking about it since!"

"We truly had a wonderful experience learning how to cook Mexican food with Lucia. Three novice couples chose this adventure and communicated our food choice limitations easily with Lucia by Whatsapp. We had a blast learning to cook familiar foods with some unfamiliar interesting ingredients. Lucia has a wonderful calm demeanor about her which was comforting when one of us screwed up. Fluent in English and familiar with multicultural foods gives Lucia the edge when she communicates. I would heartily recommend using Traveling Spoon to book Lucia for a enjoyable cooking experience for a group of friends"

"We had a wonderful time. A must for food lovers and anyone looking for a hands on authentic experience. Lucia is great. She was welcoming and had lots of knowledge about the cuisine and history of the food (even pulling out other cookbooks/history books to answer our questions about the food). We cooked mole, salsa verde, sopes, quesadillas - and had a fantastic sit down meal to enjoy the fruits of the labor! We will definitely be back to learn more recipes next time we are in Mexico City."

"We enjoyed this so much! Lucia provided a thoughtful and personalized experience for us and was a delightful host all around. She incorporated her many years of gastronomic teaching experience and shared historical insights as she invited us to chop, smash, blend, sauté, assemble (etc.) fresh ingredients to create a delicious and authentic meal in her beautiful home! It was a wonderful experience, and I highly recommend it to travelers who want to lmdive deeper into the culture and history of Mexican cuisine. *Added bonus is the nearby San Angel art market which occurs on Saturdays. Truly a delight for the senses!"

"A very special culinary experience followed by a remarkable lunch with Lucia and Martina (the dog). An easy 20-25 minute ride from Polanco and we arrived at Lucia’ charming and personal home with a picturesque garden with a view of the valley behind it. This was followed by three hours of a delightful experIence of true Mexican cuisine. The final meal and conversation did not disappoint. We now feel comfortable trying this at home. Lucia is an incredible cook and host sure to charm you."

"A truly special afternoon with Lucía – full of warmth, flavor, and heart! We had such a wonderful time with Lucía – this experience was one of the absolute highlights of our trip to Mexico City. From the very first moment, Lucía made us feel welcome and at home. Even her sweet dog Matilda gave us the warmest greeting – the cutest welcoming committee we could’ve hoped for! The visit to the local market in San Ángel was fascinating. As two German travelers with limited Spanish, we really appreciated how clearly and enthusiastically Lucía explained all the ingredients, their uses, and local traditions. Her passion for food and culture was infectious, and we felt we learned so much. At her beautiful home – especially the lovely terrace where we later shared our meal – we were blown away by how thoughtfully everything was prepared. Cooking together with Lucía was both fun and informative, and the final menu was simply delicious. Every dish was full of flavor, fresh ingredients, and love. Lucía is a fantastic host: warm, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. We felt like guests at a friend’s home rather than participants in a tour. Thank you, Lucía, for this unforgettable and meaningful afternoon. We couldn’t have asked for more!"

"We had an amazing time and made of the great mexican food that we love. Lucia was a great host and a great teacher. Would highly recommend it."

"We had a really wonderful time with Lucia, getting introduced to the local market with its abundance of vegetables and fruits, and being welcomed into her home. During the 10 days we spent in Mexico City at the end of 2024, this was one of our two most memorable experiences. I am writing this review now, 6 months later, because I just recommended Lucia’s class to friends, and realized that I had never posted a review. Learning to cook traditional-style Mexican food with Lucia was terrific fun. And the dishes we prepared were really delicious. We could never have figured out this cooking style from a cookbook. We have tried a very limited number of dishes since returning home, but we plan to experiment more broadly. We need to learn the best sources for Mexican ingredients in the Maryland area. In the meantime, I am highly recommending Lucia’s class to friends and neighbors who are heading to Mexico City later this month. I would also say that Lucia is an extremely gracious host. I post very few reviews on Trip Advisor, so this can be considered evidence of a very high level of enthusiasm."

"We had such a wonderful time visiting with Lucia and learning from her! She is warm and welcoming and her recipes were delicious- I definitely will be making them again and again at home! Lucia made it feel like we were neighbors just stopping by for a visit❤️"

"Wonderful experience with a lovely home cook! We enjoyed a generous meal and learned so much preparing it. A highlight of our time in Mexico City. We got to tour a different part of the city, learn from our guide about her life and family and neighborhood, tour the food markets and learn about the food, and enjoy the cooking experience. We learned how to make mole, quesadillas and arepas, work with zucchini blossoms, and make Mexican flan. We had a delicious meal together in her garden with a view. Highly recommend for couples or families with kids who are old enough to enjoy working in the kitchen."

"We had a wonderful time, and delicious meal with Lucia! We learned so much about the food we made, it's history, and it's ingredients. Lucia is fun, warm, extremely knowledgeable, an amazing cook, and her kitchen is comfortable. We made three dishes, three sauces, and a desert, and we had a beautiful meal in her peaceful garden. I truly loved this experience, and it was one of the highlights of our trip to Mexico City! Gracias Lucia, espero que nos volvamos a ver pronto 💖"

"We spent such a lovely day with Lucia. The market tour was informative and honestly such an interesting place i might never have discovered on my own. When it came time to cook Lucia's expertise really shown. she did an amazing job of balancing our disparate skill levels and made certain everyone had an important job. When it came time to eat we all could take pleasure in our own handiwork. What a beautiful home to be welcomed into. Lucia accomodated my mother's dietary restrictions and really helped make this the most memorable experience of out trip."

"Just getting to converse with Lucia and be in her gorgeous home would have been worth the expense. In addition to that, we made and shared a meal that blew our minds! The flavors of the sautéed fungus, green salsa, and mole delighted our senses. We peppered Lucia with questions all evening, and if we annoyed her, we couldn’t tell! She was so generous with her knowledge about art, history, spirituality, her expertise in gastronomy, and she made several recommendations about things to try during our visit. We had a full itinerary during our visit to Mexico City, and this experience was definitely one of the top highlights of the trip."

"We had such a great time! Lucia was so knowledgeable and accommodating. I would highly recommend taking this class. This was the highlight of my trip to Mexico City!"

"I have been there several times with friends and family, always a positive experience. Good menu proposal, always fresh food, attentive and fast service, even in situations of high customer presence."

"Cooking class with Lucía is a MUST while visiting Mexico City! Lucía is an amazing chef. My husband and I met her at the best Mercado in Mexico City. We wandered through the amazing grocery store sampling wonderful treats that you will never find in American stores or restaurants. We then drove to her beautiful casa in the hills. We learned to make fresh corn tortillas, two different salsas, stuffed poblano peppers, stuffed tortillas with ingredients including squash blossoms. We made crispy tortilla chips to go with the mouth watering salsas. Fried white rice that turns out amazingly fluffy, sweet mango dessert, and several other dishes. All of this washed down with a glass of hibiscus juice or a cerveza! The last comment I would like to make is that we sampled Lucía’s jalapeño jelly on a corn tortilla topped with goat cheese!! Never have we eaten any jalapeño jelly that good. You should purchase her jelly that she sells in a beautiful jar to take home with you. Lucía made us feel like part of her family. Gracias Lucía! Kathleen and Ron Texas"

"My mom and I did the cooking class with Lucia and really enjoyed it. Lucia is easy to talk with, accommodating to various tastes, and gave us other recommendations for our stay. We learned how to make some new dishes and enjoyed a delicious lunch outside. It was a pleasure to spend part of our day with this experience. Would highly recommend!"

"We booked this because of Lucia's background as a gastronomic historian. And I'd like to begin by saying I recommend this class without reservation. With all those warnings of Mexico City's traffic, we left early and arrived early. Didn't faze Lucia whose helpers, the lovely Eva and the musically inclined Claudio invited us in and led us into her beautiful home. Her garden has spectacular views and her house is sunny and filled with artefacts from Mexico and beyond. What followed was an experience that was such a great insight into Mexican cuisine, away from all the recommended restaurants. Lucia had been to the market and picked up fresh small squash blossoms amongst other delights. She set to work with my husband and I as helpers. The menu: 1. Salsa - red and green 2. Sopes 3. Quesadillas - with 2 fillings: squash blossoms and huitlacoche 4. Chiles rellenos 5. Mexican rice It was an experience with insight and advice from both Lucia and Eva. Musical accompaniment was provided in the background by Claudio as he tended the garden. Lucia taught us how to roll out the various tortillas and Eva coached me on how to place them on her frying pan. A bit different from the rotis and puris that we make in India. We had a wonderful exchange on spices, learned that guacamole does not have garlic or onions -when it does, the garlic has to be confit-, on the impact of the Spanish on Mexican cuisine. Lucia gave us tips on where to purchase the pottery she used and the pans used for roasting everything from pepper to tortillas. We found our happiness a few hours later at Mercado Sonora - reminded me of a mix between Crawford market and the Vile Parle east markets in Mumbai - packed with people buying everything from electronics, clothes, pets, to pottery and household goods. The sopes were the only dish with meat -fresh chorizo- a refreshing change and the size was perfect for a snack or an accompaniment. small tortillas pinched whilst hot to a small low quiche style receptacle to be layered with a paste of refried beans, crumbled, cooked chorizo, and sprinkled with fresh cheese. The quesadillas were fried half-moons stuffed with squash blossoms and huitlacoche - we couldn't decide which we preferred as both were excellent. I need to find fresh huitlacoche in PA! The tomatillo salsa was bright and refreshing. And dessert - simmered guava in its own juice. Perfect. I can't wait to make these. Thank you Lucia for making our last day in Mexico unforgettable. I am looking forward to cooking with you again and learning more! the morning-afternoon flew by! Lucia is knowledgeable, her kitchen is well-appointed and roomy. My husband enjoyed his beer with lunch - maybe next time I'll ask Lucia about wine-pairing."

"It has food for all tastes and is of very good quality. You can order from each location according to your craving. The service from all the staff is excellent and they are always looking to improve. It's a very good place for all ages."

"My friend and I had a wonderful day with Lucia. Starting in the market we learned her love of food and history. She shared great stories and information on the items she planned to have us cook with. We arrived at her beautiful home to prepare our meal. The prep was fun and we continued the conversation. By the time we sat down for our 3 course meal over looking her yard, we were hungry and proud of what we had accomplished. Lucia joined us and we talk more about travel and other parts of Mexico I look forward to visiting. She was an amazing host and teacher."

"Can't say enough about our time with Lucia. She is an excellent teacher and skilled at her teachings. My husband and I enjoyed our time in her beautiful home. We learned so much and hope to utilize what w learned. Thank you, Lucia!"

"What a wonderful wonderful experience. Lucia is not only a wonderful chef but she is a true historian of gastronomy. Even more important was that she is a lovely human being. We came as patrons and left as friends. Her home was beautiful and the setting for our meal was in a gorgeous garden patio. The cooking for the various courses was very fun and the food itself was awesome. Lucia is very good at tailoring the meal to the client's tastes. She send the recipes for everything. We have done other classes in the City. But if you only can do one cooking class in Mexico City this is the one to choose."

"This experience was one of the highlights of our time in Mexico City! Being hosted in a private home made for a restful change of pace from the busy streets and typical tourist / travel energy. The energy was similar to making an unplanned visit to a distant relative, and because it is leading up to dinner time, everyone congregates in the kitchen and joins in the cooking process. It was lovely. We asked questions and learned about our host, traditional ingredients and preparation methods, and regional food traditions all while we cooked. I had never attempted to make most of the dishes we prepared, and the alchemy of watching and tasting these simple ingredients combined into fresh salsa verde, red mole, etc. was magical and some of the best flavors we experienced on our trip. While eating in the beautiful back garden, we had more opportunities to ask questions and learn about Mexican food culture and our host's specialty in Mexican gastronomical history. Some of the information she shared regarding indigenous Mexican people's relationship with food gave us an interesting context for viewing many of the artifacts and symbols we encountered at museums and historical sites over the next few days of our trip. It was a great learning experience. Recommendations / Tips: *If possible, schedule your class early in your trip. The information you'll glean about places to see and food to eat while in the area could help you plan the rest of your trip. *Plan a little extra time to get there. Traffic was much worse than we expected because schools were letting out. *It is a lovely gated neighborhood. We learned after the fact, it is common practice in Mexico to leave a form of ID with the guard when entering and pick it up when departing. We didn't realize this. You may want to bring a photocopy of your driver's license for this purpose."

"It is a wonderful experience. Lucia is more than a great chef. She is an historian of how food has changed with the various cultures who have inhabited Mexico. Her home where she conducts her class is very lovely. And the setting to eat the cooked meal is beautiful. And the most important thing is that she tries very hard to make everything perfect from start to finish. We left as friends."

"Lucia is an absolute gem! Her knowledge of Mesoamerican cuisine is unparalleled, and her home provided an idyllic setting for our post-class al fresco lunch. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking a culinary and cultural experience like no other. It was a highlight of our trip and I know it will be of yours as well!"

"My partner and I had the best time with Lucia! There was a slight hiccup in the booking, however, Lucia was so professional and organized, she was able to still accommodate us despite the last minute change. We were so impressed and appreciative of her flexibility. The food was amazing the views from her garden is dreamy. I highly recommend this experience to anyone that wants an authentic cooking experience in Mexico City."

"My friend and I had the most amazing time with Lucia. She showed us around her local market, pointing out ingredients and answering any questions we had. We then went to her home where she taught us how to make a 3 course meal with some ingredients and methods that we had never heard of. She was lovely throughout, teaching us so many new things, giving us recommendations for the rest of our time during our trip and making us feel at home. She sent us the recipes for the food we made and I can't wait to take my knowledge back home and make some exciting Mexican food. Thank you so much Lucia!"

"My friend and I had the most amazing time with Lucia. She showed us around her local market, pointing out ingredients and answering any questions we had. We then went to her home where she taught us how to make a 3 course meal with some ingredients and methods that we had never heard of. She was lovely throughout, teaching us so many new things, giving us recommendations for the rest of our time during our trip and making us feel at home. She sent us the recipes for the food we made and I can't wait to take my knowledge back home and make some exciting Mexican food. Thank you so much Lucia!"

"We had been looking for cooking classes while we were planning a 6-day trip to Mexico City and after reading reviews of several options we settled on a class with Lucia and are we ever glad we did! We arrived at her beautiful home and were pleasantly pleased that we were the only ones in the class. It was a very hands-on afternoon making a sope appetizer with black bean sauce, chorizo and 2 different salsas that was one of the best bites of food our entire week in CDMX! That was followed by stuffed poblano peppers served on rice and a dessert of sweet guava with a syrupy sauce - excellent meal! Everything for this outing went very smoothly and we can't commend Lucia highly enough for her warmth and friendliness as well as her instruction and help when we were getting off track ;) Her helper Eva was a delight as well making our food look a lot more authentic than when we did it ourselves. Thanks so much to both of them for a memorable afternoon!"

"We had been looking for cooking classes while we were planning a 6-day trip to Mexico City and after reading reviews of several options we settled on a class with Lucia and are we ever glad we did! We arrived at her beautiful home and were pleasantly pleased that we were the only ones in the class. It was a very hands-on afternoon making a sope appetizer with black bean sauce, chorizo and 2 different salsas that was one of the best bites of food our entire week in CDMX! That was followed by stuffed poblano peppers served on rice and a dessert of sweet guava with a syrupy sauce - excellent meal! Everything for this outing went very smoothly and we can't commend Lucia highly enough for her warmth and friendliness as well as her instruction and help when we were getting off track ;) Her helper Eva was a delight as well making our food look a lot more authentic than when we did it ourselves. Thanks so much to both of them for a memorable afternoon!"

"My family and I spent a perfect afternoon with Lucia, learning practical tips to master Mexican cooking. We learned how we might serve the food at a dinner party, as well as how it might be eaten at a restaurant. In fact, this is just how we felt, old friends invited to share a meal. The cooking lesson itself involved preparing appetizers, a main course, and a desert; in this case, quesadillas with three salsas, a chicken mole with Mexican rice, and guavas in syrup. Along the way, we learned that, while making a good mole involves two pans and a blender, with proper preparation and sequencing of cooking, it all comes together rather quickly. We also discovered that home-made tortillas are very easy to make. Lucia has an admirable teaching style, personalizing and adapting her instruction for each of our family members. We all felt we took away something important. Additionally, the recipes were emailed to us immediately after the lesson, with the promise that she would be available to help cook them when we returned to our own kitchens. All in all, we were very impressed with the experience she provided and would definitely book another lesson."

"My family and I spent a perfect afternoon with Lucia, learning practical tips to master Mexican cooking. We learned how we might serve the food at a dinner party, as well as how it might be eaten at a restaurant. In fact, this is just how we felt, old friends invited to share a meal. The cooking lesson itself involved preparing appetizers, a main course, and a desert; in this case, quesadillas with three salsas, a chicken mole with Mexican rice, and guavas in syrup. Along the way, we learned that, while making a good mole involves two pans and a blender, with proper preparation and sequencing of cooking, it all comes together rather quickly. We also discovered that home-made tortillas are very easy to make. Lucia has an admirable teaching style, personalizing and adapting her instruction for each of our family members. We all felt we took away something important. Additionally, the recipes were emailed to us immediately after the lesson, with the promise that she would be available to help cook them when we returned to our own kitchens. All in all, we were very impressed with the experience she provided and would definitely book another lesson."

"This was time well spent for our small group! Lucia was knowledgable and courteous! We enjoyed the tasty treats, the market visit, and the exciting time cooking in the kitchen! Highly recommend this experience in the beautiful and historical San Angel neighborhood."

"My family and I spent a perfect afternoon with Lucia, learning practical tips to master Mexican cooking. We learned how we might serve the food at a dinner party, as well as how it might be eaten at a restaurant. In fact, this is just how we felt, old friends invited to share a meal. The cooking lesson itself involved preparing appetizers, a main course, and a desert; in this case, quesadillas with three salsas, a chicken mole with Mexican rice, and guavas in syrup. Along the way, we learned that, while making a good mole involves two pans and a blender, with proper preparation and sequencing of cooking, it all comes together rather quickly. We also discovered that home-made tortillas are very easy to make. Lucia has an admirable teaching style, personalizing and adapting her instruction for each of our family members. We all felt we took away something important. Additionally, the recipes were emailed to us immediately after the lesson, with the promise that she would be available to help cook them when we returned to our own kitchens. All in all, we were very impressed with the experience she provided and would definitely book another lesson."

"We had such a wonderful experience in Lucia’s beautiful home! She created a special menu for us and everything was phenomenal. Definitely some of the best food we have had in CDMX! We look forward to trying to recreate it at home. If you enjoy cooking, I definitely recommend this experience with Lucia!"

"We had such a wonderful experience in Lucia’s beautiful home! She created a special menu for us and everything was phenomenal. Definitely some of the best food we have had in CDMX! We look forward to trying to recreate it at home. If you enjoy cooking, I definitely recommend this experience with Lucia!"

"I booked this cooking class experience with two other friends, and we had such a great time! We started the tour at an outdoor market, where we met Lucia. She gave us a tour of the market, stopping to show us different fruits and vegetables that are common in Mexican cuisine. Afterwards, we hopped in Lucia’s car and headed to her beautiful home. The views from her backyard were stunning, and it made the experience that much better! Since my group was vegetarian + pescatarian, Lucia accommodated us and curated a menu that we would enjoy. Everything that we made and ate was delicious (authentic quesadillas, arroz con leche (per our request), and the most delicious chile rellenos)! Lucia answered all of our questions and was a very good host. After we finished cooking, we headed to her backyard to enjoy our food. It was amazing! Hearing her knowledge of food and gastronomy was a great experience. She also gave us tips on what we should see in CDMX and answered questions we had about local culture, which was nice. Definitely recommend this experience!"

"Great culinary experience! Lucia took into consideration our dietary restrictions and was very accommodating. Her home was beautiful and the market tour was a plus. Great class for beginners/intermediate cooks. For more experienced cooks, I recommend being specific in the intake form to highlight what things you want to cook and/or what your culinary interests are to have a more tailored and fulfilling experience."

"Lucia is a wonderful hostess, cook, and teacher. She met us at the Mercado, showed us around and allowed us to sample various foods. She offered two options for the meal and we chose the almond mole. She was very organized and managed to give us all several jobs and keep track of everything. Our kids are 10 and 12 and she had them chopping, saute, making fresh quesadillas and sopes, and making flan. If you have kids the activity works better if they are more mature as it is a couple hours of cooking. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed a fantastic meal on her patio enjoying the lovely garden and view. The meal was generous: chicken mole with rice, sopes with beans and chorizo, quesadillas with zuchinni blossom or fermentes corn, salsas, caramel flan. We made everything! Thank you Lucia! We loved getting to know you!"

"Great culinary experience! Lucia took into consideration our dietary restrictions and was very accommodating. Her home was beautiful and the market tour was a plus. Great class for beginners/intermediate cooks. For more experienced cooks, I recommend being specific in the intake form to highlight what things you want to cook and/or what your culinary interests are to have a more tailored and fulfilling experience."

"Lucia is a wonderful hostess, cook, and teacher. She met us at the Mercado, showed us around and allowed us to sample various foods. She offered two options for the meal and we chose the almond mole. She was very organized and managed to give us all several jobs and keep track of everything. Our kids are 10 and 12 and she had them chopping, saute, making fresh quesadillas and sopes, and making flan. If you have kids the activity works better if they are more mature as it is a couple hours of cooking. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed a fantastic meal on her patio enjoying the lovely garden and view. The meal was generous: chicken mole with rice, sopes with beans and chorizo, quesadillas with zuchinni blossom or fermentes corn, salsas, caramel flan. We made everything! Thank you Lucia! We loved getting to know you!"

"Hands down one of our favorite experiences in Mexico. The food we prepared was so delicious. Everything was fresh and local to the area. We were walked through how to prepare everything and sent home with recipes that we can make on our own time. The home is beautiful. We were lucky to be able to sit out on the back patio and enjoy the food that we prepared. I would highly recommend booking this experience."

"Great experience, charming hostess but somewhat pricey. Best suited for 3 -4 max for a hands on cooking class."

"Great experience, charming hostess but somewhat pricey. Best suited for 3 -4 max for a hands on cooking class."

"It was truly the highlight of our trip! Strongly recommend this tour to everyone who loves food and enjoy cooking or want to learn about the cuisine in Mexico! It was our first time in Mexico/mexico city and we booked this tour since both my partner and I love food. We have a restaurant in Tokyo and we were really looking forward to getting an introduction and learning about the cuisine and the culture etc. Lucia welcomed us warmly and both walking around the market with her and her cooking class were both incredible/exciting/inspiring experiences. She even altered some of the cooking class menu and shared many ideas with us when we talked about our restaurant business after we met up, which we were so grateful for since I didn't mention any of that background info when we were booking. (Recommend communicating any request or background etc in advance via message) Thank you so much again for the amazing day, Lucia! :)"

"Lucía was amazing! Delicious food and great fun! (And she helped us with a minor family emergency - completely above and beyond the call of duty). We have already recommended her to other friends and family traveling to México soon."

"Our time with Lucia started at a local market where we explored things that we would need to create a food experience. She shared with us the history of many of the ingredients we would use, and we were able to taste samples of spices and food made by artisans with more than 40 years’ experience. Lucia welcomed us into her home and her kitchen where we learned how to prepare authentic Mexican cuisine. Every bite was mouth watering. The bonus was the conversation that made us feel like we were with a long time friend. What a fantastic journey! If you are planning to visit Mexico City, add this to the top of your bucket list of things to do. "

"Cooking with Lucia was a great experience! I definitely recommend her class. We had amazing food in a beautiful home. She was also kind enough to help us find our way to the San Angel where there is a great market, restaurants and the Diego Riviera studio."

"We did a Monday morning class with Lucia with a market tour. This was a great time to plan an activity as many things are closed on Mondays but the markets are better on the weekends. The cooking class was an incredible experience in Lucia’s beautiful home. She accommodated a special menu for us as adventurous cooks, vegetarian, and gluten free. Lucia is so incredibly knowledgeable about her hometown and history of Mexican food. We felt so lucky to have spent the day with her cooking a menu of tortillas, sopes, quesadillas, Huazontles, salsa molcajete, nopal salad, arroz verde, and xoconostles. We cooked everything together from scratch with local ingredients. She was very warm, inviting, and took the time to answer questions and explain techniques for example what would make a tortilla better. Evita was a delight and assisted with the class. We loved meeting Lucia’s dog Martina. I would recommend this class to anyone visiting Mexico City especially if you like to cook."

"We were so delighted with our market and cooking experience with Lucia. We started out with a market tour, and it was clear that Lucia was familiar with everyone there as we learned about market history, dried chiles, traditional remedies, and various other market wares. From there, we headed to Lucia’s home, a very clean and comfortable space with a lovely large kitchen area and charming backyard, which had an amazing view of a ravine, completely covered in trees and dwellings. It really gave us a different sense of the variety in what is CDMX, since near our hotels, it was all buildings, manicured, or treeless. We were most excited to learn to make mole, where we started with Phil taking the lead in frying the many ingredients while Lucia taught Rane to make the fresh and roasted salsas we would learn to prepare. Everything we made turned out great. She helped us to learn the details of how to create many dishes with detailed hands-on experiences. We made Mexican rice, molotes (with chorizo and potatoes), sopes, quesadillas (with cheese and huitlacoche), 2 salsas, and chicken with freshly made mole. We even had prickly pear in syrup for dessert. We got to understand the versatility of the masa across various antojitos. We snacked on those until Phil became worried that he would not be able to eat the mole over the chicken, which was stupendous. Phil can’t wait to find the time to make up a big batch. We even managed the dessert, which was a wonderful end to the meal and the experience. With the market visit, we also have a much better sense of how mole is sold fresh, and we’re hoping we might just be able to try some from one of our local Mexican grocery stores when we’re searching for other supplies to replicate our experience. While she wasn’t a coffee drinker, she was happy to accommodate our desire to have some coffee she had while we were working. We were made to feel welcome at all times and had lots of fun while learning more about the culture and the food."

"A wonderful experience! This was a hands-on cooking class in Lucia’s beautiful home. We learned so much about Mexican food and the lunch was absolutely delicious. Our six year old loved it too! Highly recommended."

"We had a fantastic morning of cooking! My mother and I enjoyed a delicious menu of fresh flavorful ingredients. The experience is very hands on with chopping, sauteing, making quesadillas with masa, grinding vegetables into salsa. It was amazing. The joy of the class is the host, Lucia! She's warm, patient, and open! She's excited to share and teach. Her background on food and history is phenomenal! Also her house is beautiful with a great backyard and cute dog! She is also open to you suggesting what types of foods you'd like to make. This is a 10/10 experience and a must try if in CDMX."

"My son and I had a fabulous time learning to cook with Lucia. She was an amazing host so we learned about Mexican cooking and about life in Mexico more generally. We had a fascinating time and her garden was a lovely oasis in Mexico City to enjoy the meal after. She was the consummate host."

"We have had multiple highlights on this trip to Mexico City, but this experience tops the list. Lucia was warm and welcoming into her beautiful home. And so gracious with sharing her vast skills in the kitchen. We made adobe, salsa verde, casadillas (including homemade tortillas by us!). An absolute highlight! HIGHLY recommend it!"

"Wonderful menu and cooking experience. Relaxing atmosphere and warm hospitality. Lucia is an excellent hostess and accommodated all dietary needs and restrictions."

"Wonderful menu and cooking experience. Relaxing atmosphere and warm hospitality. Lucia is an excellent hostess and accommodated all dietary needs and restrictions."

"Lucia was amazing! She was so nice and gave us some great cooking insight. Would recommend to anyone"

"Lucia was amazing! She was so nice and gave us some great cooking insight. Would recommend to anyone"

"Lucía was the best, our communication was great and she tried to accommodate our requests with no fuss. The whole experience was better than expected. Everyone that visits Mexico should do this tour… highly recommended!!"

"Lucia was a lot of fun as a teacher. Full of knowledge! Going to the market and asking questions was very helpful! We made a lot of food which was all delicious. It always help to have the hands on experience . I can’t wait to make the green mole at home, very soon. I feel like I made a new friend. Thank you."

"Lucia was a wonderful host - we met at the local market first where she showed us all the local produce and patiently answered all our questions. We then went to her home where we learned how to prepare cactus, made tortillas and quesadillas from scratch. It was an amazing experience that immersed us deeply in the local culture and experience Mexican hospitality at its fullest! Would recommend to anyone visiting Mexico City!"

"Incredible experience!!! Our cooking class with Lucia was the highlight of our trip! We started at the market where she showed us a variety of foods, spices, & goods that are unique to Mexico. We then went to her beautiful home where we started cooking. We made an array of delicious quesadillas, molé verde, Mexican rice, & flan de cajeta! It was my husband’s birthday so she was sure to include some of his favorite dishes! We learned SO much and had so much fun doing it! Lucia is a wealth of knowledge, very kind, and an amazing Chef! After we finished cooking, we got to sit outside in her beautiful, lush garden and enjoy the fruits of our labor! She has a stunning view and an incredible garden where she grows her own herbs and vegetables. We communicated before our arrival and she gave us so many wonderful recommendations and tips for our trip. She even set us up with a private guide to Xochimilco for a sunrise tour, which exceeded all expectations! Do yourself a favor and book a cooking class with Lucia! I promise you won’t regret it!"

"Lunch with Lucia was so wonderful. The food was amazing and she was able to accommodate my food restrictions as a vegan! Beautiful experience, delicious food, and we got to learn so much from her. Definitely would recommend this to anyone visiting Mexico City that enjoys delicious food 😊"

"Lucia welcomed us with open arms and made us feel at home. We got to work in her spacious kitchen prepping several dishes. She very generously accommodated the variety of dishes we'd suggested as options to learn how to make - roast, stuffed poblano peppers, green salsa, lime cured fish (ceviche Mexican style), red rice, and, of course, tortillas. She worked patiently with us explaining the cooking techniques and the backstory on different variations in preparation styles. Then she joined us for lunch in her lush garden while we stuffed our faces. Very highly recommend this for anyone who likes to cook (or eat) and is curious about stories behind the foods."

"Our experience with Lucia was something I will never forget! We learned so much about Mexican cuisine & this will go down as a highlight of our trip to CDMX!! A truly great time!"

"Ese día nos queda como una gran memoria del viaje a México. De verdad es tan memorable y también una aprendizaje que nos lleva al futuro. Lucia es muy amable y nos invitó en su casa y no trató como amigos. Nos enseñó y nos servió comida excelente y nos dio las recetas para preparar al regresar a casa. 100% te recomiendo tomar esta clase."

"I have done private cooking classes and market tours around the world and Lucia is at the top of the list. Lucia is personable, knowledgeable, and very good at managing a group with varying skill levels. We made chicken and mole, fried quesadillas, and a guava dessert. We had fun, ate well, and importantly learned some key skills. I would gladly book another class. Did I mention Lucia is a wonderful person to sit and chat with when it is time to eat? Lucia, send those recipes!"

"The entire experience was exactly what my husband and I were looking for during our trip to Mexico City! We started the day by meeting Lucia at a local market where she took us around to local stands to explain the local produce, try fresh corn tortillas and even bought us a few sweets to take home. As we made our way into Lucia's home, she was nothing but welcoming & really made us feel comfortable as guests in her home. We had an awesome time learning how to make a traditional mole, mushroom quesadillas and even taught us how to make a flan from scratch! Lucia's beautiful backyard really set the stage for an amazing & peaceful lunch. Lucia even recommended a few activities & helped us book a spot at a local restaurant that she spoke highly of. All in all, this is exactly what an at-home cooking experiences should be!! I would recommend this experience to all of my friends and anyone looking to have a true cooking experience with a local chef!"

"We had the most amazing afternoon with Lucia! Everything we made was delicious and she went above and beyond for us."

"Lucia is knowledgeable and so good about giving you real time feedback on your cooking. She cared deeply that I was getting it right and was able to answer any questions I had along the way. Will absolutely take another class from her :-) My host was thoughtful, gave timely feedback on my work, and knew all kinds of information when I asked questions. Loved her!"

"As we planned our trip to Mexico my wife and discussed taking a cooking class. How else do you really get to know another culture? You really learn a lot through the experience food. We met Lucia at a local market. This is where our experience began. She walked us through the market that she had been going to since she was a young girl. We learned about the different spices and variety of fruits and vegetables as we wondered through the maze of vendors in the market. Everyone was kind and generous to allow us a few tastes of their products. It was a wonderful experience. My daughters boyfriend said it was the best experience he had ever had in his life on a vacation. We made our way back to Lucia's house where we quickly became a big family together for that afternoon. Cooking our way into Chicken Mole and our sauces that turned us into little pigs. At the end we all sat together and enjoyed the remainder of the afternoon talking, laughing and eating together. It is a must do again."

"A delightful day and a highlight of the trip. Lucia hosts you in her elegant and lovely house with a stunning backdrop as the garden looks out on a kind of urban ravine. The lesson is appropriately informative, and hands on, with both an opportunity to polish one's own culinary skills whilst at the same time gaining a fascinating insight into the history and culture of Mexico. Since food plays such a large part in that culture, of course. I must also acknowledge her friends and helpers, for her two assistants were exemplary. They all pulled together as a team, to show, first hand, how the Mexicans themselves make their extraordinary cuisine in real time. Drinks are provided of course to go with the food (I must shamefacedly admit to having my first one at 11.30 but that isn't compulsory!) and the time just flew by. Lucia herself was wonderfully friendly, I come from near London, and this prompted her to share some enjoyable experiences spent in my home town when a much younger woman before her marriage. Clearly a happy time in her life. I suspect this formative time explains her excellent command of vernacular English. But don't worry, she understands Americans too. ;-) The lesson is augmented by very useful recommendations so if you are to do this (and you should) there is definitely a benefit to doing it at an early stage of your visit. Highly recommended both to those new to Mexico, and also those experienced old hands who know the country well, but are looking for new perspective and insight. If you like Mexican food you are sure to enjoy this experience, and also to find you see it (and indeed the country itself) in a transformative new light. One left feeling as though one had found a new friend. Enjoy!"

"Lucia was absolutely amazing to work with. She went through great detail with how to prepare each salsa and we learned so many techniques along the way. At the end, she showed us how to incorporate into a variety of meals. We’ve already made so many of these for friends and everyone has rave reviews. Thank you!!"

"This was a wonderful experience for my girlfriend and I at Lucia's house! Lucia was very welcoming and we had a great time with her and the other ladies who helped us with the cooking. We learned to make mole, quesadillas filled with traditional Mexican fillings of squash flower and huitlacoche, salsa, mexican rice, and more. Everything was delicious and Lucia was helpful through the whole process. She even advised us on some dining experiences in CDMX. If you're visiting I would definitely recommend this experience with Lucia!"

"Lucia was great! Happy to have the three salsa recipes for future use"

"Lucia's tortilla soup class is a 10 out of 10! Not only did our soup turn out delicious but we had a great time making it. Lucia really made us feel like we were in her kitchen with her! She was incredibly friendly and easy to communicate with. She also went above and beyond what we were expecting and took the time to show us a few other traditional foods and answered every question we had. Lucia was truly an amazing host and I can't wait to take another class with her."

"Lucia was absolutely the best! She was a great teacher and an amazing host! We appreciate all of her help and the best part is she made it really really fun!! We will definitely do this again!!"

"Let me just start by saying that our guide Lucia was absolutely STELLAR. My wife and I managed to book her last minute during a holiday week but she was kind enough to work with our schedule. We arrived at Mercado San Angel for the tour and she was extremely knowledgeable of all the foods, but most importantly, the people working the stalls too. While we toured the market she picked up various items that we would later include in our meal.Afterward, she drove us to her beautiful home where we prepared our meal in a very well organized and clean kitchen. Each dish was quite tasty and my only complaint is that my wife and I were unable to eat more of it. During the time that we cooked, we asked her various questions about Mexican culture and its culinary history. Lucia was very well-versed and answered everything we asked of her. If you're interested in learning more about Mexican food, its history, and the current scene, Lucia is the one to ask.Highly recommended and would do it again when we visited Mexico City in the future."

"This was the best travel decision I have made in a long time! Lucia was delightful and the food we made was absolutely delicious and I would go back again in a heartbeat. Lucia is a top notch Mexican gastronomer and she made our experience interesting, informative, and hands on. We did the cooking ourselves and left with recipes so I feel comfortable replicating the dishes at home."

"What a great day from start to finish! This wonderful very unique experience of learning with Lucia exceeded every expectation. Starting with a tour around the market and learning about ingredients, sauces, spices, new (to me) fruit and vegetables along with the history of uses and ingredients particular to certain areas of Mexico. Then a lovely rest of the day learning to make several delicious dishes that we enjoyed eating. Lucia is a wealth of knowledge not only about food history and cooking but also about great neighborhoods, cafes, museums and events that we could enjoy. Lucia is a wonderful host and I highly recommend this experience and will remain a great memory of my best day in Mexico City. I cant say enough about how much we enjoyed our day with Lucia and would not hesitate to recommend her."

"Lucia is the best! I highly recommend her. We traveled to CDMX from California. My 21 year old son is in a wheelchair and loves to experience food and culture. Lucia did not disappoint. She welcomed us into her home and included all of us in making the most amazing, authentic Mexican meal! She knows her stuff and is so warm and friendly. It was the experience of a lifetime!!"

"The chefs were very knowledgeable and we enjoyed learning how to make traditional Mexican dishes in a beautiful home. Their home had a beautiful backyard where we were able to talk and enjoy the food we prepared. It was interesting to not only see the dishes prepared but get the history as to why they were prepared that way and why they used the tools and ingredients they used. I would absolutely recommend it to adults and families! "

"Our day with Lucia was a highlight of a recent trip to Mexico City. Her deep culinary knowledge, as both an academic and lifelong resident of San Angel, meant that we learned new things all through the day. As we visited the market she's been going to all her life, we not only got to sample some new foods, but also to learn about their cultural and historical significance. Seeing San Angel was a treat we might have otherwise missed. But the real delight was the time we spent in Lucia's beautiful kitchen. She had everything planned and ready for us to work with, but the afternoon felt much more like cooking with a lovely friend than a class, especially as the three of us chatted and enjoyed the lunch we had made. And the day after we returned home, we went out and bought tomatillos to recreate the delicious salsa she'd taught us to make!"

"6 friends and I heard about Lucia through the grapevine and decided to spring for this amazing and unique opportunity! Among all the amazing things to do in Mexico City, going to the market and her home kitchen to learn about pre and post colonial Mexican cuisine was such a warm, personal, delightful experience. From the moment we met her at the market until our post-meal coma...Lucia was a kind and generous host how taught and showed us so many amazing things! I would recommend this experience for anyone who loves to learn about food and culture, cook, eat, and have wonderful conversations with wonderful people."

"Had a wonderful time at the market tour and cooking lesson at Lucia's home. Lucia decided on the afternoon's menu as we walked around Mercado San Angel seeing what looked good or special that day. Great food, great conversation, and a lovely way to spend a Monday afternoon outside the typical Mexico City tourist areas. Would highly recommend!"

"Lucia was the perfect host for us! She was a delight and a treat to explore the markets, and learn how to cook delish Mexican cuisines. We could not have asked for anything better, as we cooked in her fabulous home. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a first hand experience. No doubt a highlight of our trip."

"Four of us met Lucia at the market where we spent ~30 minutes walking around the market, sampling local products, and picking up a few things. I really wanted to find a molcajete to bring home and Lucia was great about helping me find a vendor that sold one for a good price. After the market we hopped in her car for a quick ride back to her beautiful home where we spent the next few hours making mole and tamales. The class was great and very hands on - even with 4 of us there was something for everyone to do. Lucia was fantastic at explaining things and super patient and relaxed. The food turned out wonderfully and it was fun chatting with her over lunch. While her place is 20-30 minutes outside the main tourist areas of Condesa and Roma, it's definitely worth the trip. It's a $5 USD Uber ride and the San Angel neighborhood is nice to walk around. If you book for Saturday, you could also combine it with the nearby Bazaar Sabado."

"This was by far the highlight of our five day trip to Mexico City! Lucia is incredibly knowledgeable and fun and made making mole seem easy for a group of five gringas! (And the mole was delicious to boot!) Could not recommend this experience enough."

"We registered for the cooking class through Traveling Spoon. Lucia was our teacher-chef. There were 7 of us total - 4 adults and 3 children - and she welcomed us warmly to her lovely home in the San Angel region of Mexico City. Her kitchen was well laid-out, so there was ample room for us to engage in cooking and to observe. She was so gracious and engaging with the children, making them a little something special. Her English was wonderful and she enthusiastic and engaging with everyone. Since my husband and I were going to stay a few days later than the rest of the party, s also helped us get a wonderful room at lovely boutique hotel in the Roma district. The meal was absolutely delicious, and she shared the recipes for the meal we'd prepared. We highly recommend this fabulous experience - the highlight of our visit!"

"My friends and I took a private cooking class from Lucia in her home during our trip to Mexico City. Lucia was incredibly warm, generous and welcoming, and the class was super informative. She taught was how to make tamales and chicken mole, all while giving us a Mexican history/culture lesson. Lucia also gave us some delicious tequila while we cooked. Class and dinner with Lucia was the highlight of my trip. I can't recommend Lucia enough! I agree with previous reviewers, Lucia speaks perfect english, she is a great teacher, and you should leave plenty of time to hang out. We were there for approximately 4 hours. Thanks Lucia!"

"We couldn't have been more impressed with Lucia and our cooking lesson. We were a group of 4 adults and two teens. She was in contact before our lesson and crafted a menu based on our likes/dislikes and special requests. She met us at her local market, where she knew most of the vendors, and they were happy to take a moment to chat and offer us tastes of the various foods they sold. After the market tour, we went to Lucia's home for our cooking class--by way of her beautiful historic neighborhood. Her home was just lovely, with a kitchen large enough to allow all of us to help with the cooking at the same time. Lucia was so personable and fun! She made us feel welcome and right at home. She demonstrated and explained all of the steps and techniques we used while cooking and also told us about some specific ingredients to look for in the US. After everything was prepared, we sat around her dining table to enjoy great conversation and the delicious meal we'd made with her. Lucia was incredibly kind and welcoming and it felt like all of us made a real connection. She went out of her way to come up with some suggestions about where we could find a good meal on New Year's Eve, even making a few calls while we were still there to see if she could help us acquire a reservation!We can't recommend her highly enough. Thank you Lucia!"

"I bought this experience for my boyfriend for his birthday and we were not disappointed!! It was the first week of our travelling experience and it was amazing, the food was delicious and we loved learning the Mexican techniques and all about the foods we had never heard of. Lucia was lovely made us feel so at home and was so welcoming! Her dog was also lovely. Left feeling extremely happy and full of knowledge, thank you Lucia lots of love Tash and Will x"

"My four friends and I recently spent a long weekend in Mexico City, and one thing on our list was a cooking class. I found Lucía online and during our initial correspondence, she was responsive and excited to teach us something new. We Uber’ed to her home from the city on a Friday evening - side note, give yourself time for the traffic - and she welcomed us into her beautiful home with a hug. We spent the next 3 hours in her spacious and light filled kitchen, where she taught us how to make cactus salad, Huitlacoche soup, red rice, and the show stopper - a quick Veracruz style mole. During food preparations, we sat and sampled mezcal and learned of her passion for cooking. She then ushered us into her dining room where we enjoyed the delicious food that we had prepared, all the while talking about holiday traditions with our families. It was truly one of the best Thanksgiving dinners we had in years.Don’t hesitate to reserve this class - you will not regret it!"

"Great evening! We were SO stuffed we hardly had room for the mole! Lucia (and her son Fernando) were warm, welcoming and exactly why I love to travel. My brothers and sis n law had a great time learning new recipes, new techniques and an all around perfect evening. Lucia's home is lovely in a gated community. This was one of our anchor experiences in why we LOVED Mexico City. Bonus: we had a birthday in our bunch and Lucia was happy to help us surprise the birthday boy :)FYI It was about a US$ 12 Uber ride from Polanco. I've enjoyed cooking classes in various countries, but I especially enjoyed the in home experience of Lucia's class."

"I’m a former New York City chef, so I have a love for food and always spend my time going to local markets, restaurants and cooking classes when I travel. My friend and I spent the day with Lucia at her beautiful home in Mexico City. She created an exceptionally varied, flavorful and generous menu and even took my request for a regional dish that I was dying to make. Lucia is extremely knowledgeable and walked us through each recipe as we shared food prep. We had an easygoing conversation filled with laughter and ended up sharing personal experiences by the end of the day, promising to visit each other if we were ever traveling in Mexico, San Francisco or London. After a week spent in CDMX, we felt that our day with Lucia was the highlight of this trip. In my mind, these types of cultural, personal exchanges are what make travel so rewarding. If you have a chance to spend an afternoon or evening with Lucia, don’t pass it up. I wouldn’t hesitate for a second to recommend her to any of my friends—from professional chefs to home cooks."

"This was a stellar experience from start to finish. Lucia is a warm and generous host and planned a wonderful meal for us with seasonal specialty Huitlacoche as well as a simple mole, a light and refreshing sopa and home made empanadas. The food was delicious and I cannot wait to try them again at home."

"Our family of four had a hands on cooking class with Lucia. We learned a lot about the food and preparation. More importantly we learned a great deal about Mexican culture and history. I would definitely visit with Lucia and her family again if we return to Mexico."

"My husband and I had the pleasure of doing the market tour and in home cooking lesson with Lucia, and it was a true highlight of our trip to Mexico City. We met Lucia at the San Juan market and learned so much about the produce and spices available - we were the only tourists and felt like we really got the authentic market experience. We picked up a few goodies and headed back to Lucia's beautiful home - it was full of light and the kitchen was huge! Spending a few hours cooking with Lucia was so fun - we had so many tastings of different items, that by the time we sat down for our meal, we were already full! For our meal we made some tacos to start, and tortilla soup, meatballs in a chipotle sauce, a sweet guava dessert, and margaritas and it was all so delicious and comforting. Sitting down and chatting with Lucia at the end was the true highlight - we really bonded over some shared life experiences and made a new friend. Lucia also helped us with restaurant recommendations and activities for the remainder of our trip!If you're lucky enough to have the opportunity to book this experience with Lucia, please don't pass it up. Your bellies will be full, and you hearts will be fuller."

"Our family had a fantastic time cooking with Lucia in her lovely home. She accommodated our request for GF recipes (our daughter has celiac disease) and to learn how to cook with mole sauce! She is informative and friendly, speaks english beautifully, and the evening passed with a relaxed pace and opportunities to learn about Mexican cooking and culture. We were also lucky enough to meet some of her family members and to play with her dogs! I would recommend this to families with adventurous eaters interested in exploring a less touristy neighborhood with older kids (ours are 17 & 20). Bravo!"

"My friends and I had a wonderful afternoon of cooking, tasting ingredients new to our palettes, and learning about the history of Mexico from our wonderful chef and Mexican historian Lucia. Her home was beautiful and inviting, with the most gorgeous view, and her dogs were so handsome. The menu was well planned, prepped for, and executed (at least Lucia's was was well executed! LOL) - and the food was absolutely, hands-down delicious. Lucia was hospitable, down-to-earth, and willing to go with the flow - my friend ended up showing her how to make fried chicken that maintains a crunchy coating! Spending time with real people in their home, cooking authentic dishes, eating great food and learning is one of the BEST ways to really get to know any culture. Lucia (and her wonderful sister) and the afternoon of cooking and food we shared will be a highlight of my Mexico City trip for sure."

"My friends and I spent the afternoon with Lucia, and had a blast. Not only was the food delicious we got to work with ingredients that we had never heard of before, and learn completely new techniques. The class is held at Lucia’s house, which offered a very intimate and personalized experience. We made tortillas and sopas Deon scratch, which were turned into a delectable appetizer of quesadilla and chicarron sopes. Our main entree was Chile’s en nogada! It was unbelievably delicious. Lucia was also a wealth of knowledge about The history of Mexico and its cuisine. I highly recommend this class! We had a wonderful time!"

"Lucia treated our group of four to a truly rewarding culinary experience! She put a great deal of forethought into planning our menu, emailing back and forth to make certain we would learn something new and interesting. Our market tour was illuminating and FUN, as was cooking in her beautiful home. We learned so much about Mexican cuisine and culture. The atmosphere was relaxed, yet organized, and Lucia emanated warmth and kindness. We made a real connection! Definitely a highlight of our trip to Mexico City and an experience I will not soon forget."

"An afternoon with Lucia is a great way to carve out an intimate experience in such a large populated city. We had been to a market beforehand and had so many questions as to what things were so we brought all our questions for Lucia. Lucia will walk you through the tastes, history and use of native Mexican food/ingredients. Returning to her beautiful home, you get a hands-on lesson making a 3-course meal and a possibly a few extras ;). Lucia (and her housekeeper) are such warm people; a lesson from them is like having your own mother passing down a family recipe. Lucia has impeccable English so can easily share her knowledge and expertise. Once our meal was made we all sat down in the dining room to enjoy our meal together and had a chance to get to know one another. Many thanks Lucia!Tip: don't plan a tightly scheduled day as your lesson may run a bit over...like any good dinner party!"

"Lucia was a simply wonderful host. She showed us the ins and outs of the Mercado San Angel, introducing us to both vendors and new flavors. After welcoming us into her home, we prepared a delicious meal together under Lucia's instruction. Along the way, she explained the role of different ingredients and dishes in Mexican culinary history, from Catholic convents to prehispanic agriculture. Even more than the delicious meal, we enjoyed the chance to learn about Mexican food and culture from a local, especially one as warm and knowledgeable as Lucia.In short, this was the highlight of our weeklong stay in Mexico City. I can't recommend it enough."

"My daughter and I had a wonderful night with Lucia in her lovely home. She walked us through some delicious recipes and we enjoyed dinner and conversation. She sent us the recipes shortly afterwards. We very much enjoyed ourselves, made some delicious food and had a great time. Thank you!"

"As an industry professional, I was looking on Traveling Spoon for a historian of Mexican cuisine and the variables from region to region. Lucia was an exemplary wealth of knowledge about the history of Mexico city, as a native of the San Angel neighborhood, Lucia is a chef working in Mexico and exemplifying Mexican cuisine internationally. She took myself and my two friends, to the Mercado Melchior Muzquiz, answering all of our eager questions and teaching us about the market culture she had grown up and sharing our excitement to try the regional ingredients Mexico has to offer. I very much appreciated Lucia's translations in purchasing and conversing about regional legumes, specially some heritage ones I was seeking. We learned that guava, purslane, among other vegetables, were in season at that moment.For our actual cooking lesson, Lucia invited us over to her beautiful house and taught us how to make many variations on a theme--mole, tacos, chili rellenos-- and planned a fantastic three course meal for us. She shared the cookbooks she had about regional plants and vegetables (we cooked cuitlacoche, corn fungus, a tender fennel like front that tasted of asparagus, vegetarian mole) and taught us the extensive genre of chili rellenos. For our appetizer we prepared cuitlacoche and salsa verde tacos as well as mole with local grass, nopales and potato. For our main course, we prepared a duo of chili rellenos--an ancho chili, rehydrated in cane syrup, stuffed with refried black beans and chorizo and a charred poblano chili stuffed with Queso Chihuahua and corn, slowly fried in an aerated egg batter, rice (!!! the star), and guava gel with cheese.It is clear that Lucia has a voracious passion and drive for cooking, learning, and sharing. We had an unforgettable time learning from her and her sous, a charming older woman who compared arms with me and found all the same burn marks. I learned so much from the day spent with Lucia and gained a deeper understanding of Mexican cuisine and language surrounding cooking, before, and after the Spaniards. Lucia will tailor your experience to your interests, may it be fish or vegan cooking, and thoughtfully prepare a menu accordingly. Do not hesitate to book an experience with Lucia; if you are a novice, or a professional. Her enthusiasm is infectious and inspiring and you will come away from this day inspired from the market, the food, and stimulating conversation. We love Martina and Rita, thank you so much, again, Lucia!!"

"My friends and I wanted a different adventure while visiting Mexico City. We found traveling spoon and decided to take part in a cooking experience with Lucia de la Barra. I would recommend this to everyone!! We met her at the market and she gave us a mini lesson I different fruits and vegetables native to Mexico. We even sat down for a light snack! We then went to her beautiful home tucked away in this pretty neighborhood to begin cooking. We each got a role and helped each other and made an amazing meal! We made fresh margaritas (the best I’ve ever had). We ended up chatting with her family for hours and enjoyed a nice relaxing afternoon. If you come to Mexico City and want something different I highly recommend cooking with Lucia de la barra!!"

"This class was a birthday gift for my mom, and Lucia really made it a special and memorable experience. We tried lots of interesting fruits and spices at the market, then cooked several delicious recipes at her beautiful home. I especially liked that she chose recipes that I will be able to replicate back home in the US - the ingredients were not so specialized that they would be hard to find, and the preparation was complicated enough to be fun, but not so difficult that I couldn't do it on my own."

"The cooking lesson with Lucia was a highlight of our trip! The meal was delicious - we're eagerly waiting recipes via email to try at home. Lucia welcomed us into her beautiful home like old friends. As we worked, she demonstrated and explained steps and techniques. We appreciate that Lucia was well organized: she sent the menu before we arrived; considered a food allergy; included requested Lime Soup on menu. Lucia included many delicious special touches: Margaritas from recipe she enjoys and recently received; ant eggs tostada; vegan mole taco; great green salsa; delicious guacamole; corn cake with rompope sauce. Lucia's kitchen was well-designed/laid out. The set-up allowed for us to easily watch, listen, and participate."

"The cooking lesson with Lucia was a highlight of our trip! The meal was delicious - we’re eagerly waiting recipes via email to try at home. Lucia welcomed us into her beautiful home like old friends. As we worked, she demonstrated and explained steps and techniques. We appreciate that Lucia was well organized: she sent the menu before we arrived; considered a food allergy; included requested Lime Soup on menu. Lucia included many delicious special touches: Margaritas from recipe she enjoys and recently received; ant eggs tostada; vegan mole taco; great green salsa; delicious guacamole; corn cake with rompope sauce. Lucia’s kitchen was well-designed/laid out. The set-up allowed for us to easily watch, listen, and participate."

"For any traveller to Mexico City – make the time to do this – you will not regret it!! Lucia is a most pleasant and relaxed host coupled with an extensive knowledge of Mexican cooking, culture and history. We had a great time in her local market investigating, tasting and engaging with the local sellers. Returning to Lucia’s most beautiful home accompanied by an insightful “audio” tour of her neighbourhood. You certainly get a complete all-round experience and the opportunity to find out what makes Mexico City tick. The cooking experience is very engaging – and you can be as involved as you care to be so no pressure to demonstrate your own skills or knowledge – Lucia is very accommodating and keen to share her own passion and knowledge of the flavoursome and authentic food she prepares and best of all, you get to eat it. It was just so satisfying in all respects and a massive thank you Lucia! Tony & Katie - Mar 2018 (London UK)."

"For any traveller to Mexico City – make the time to do this – you will not regret it!! Lucia is a most pleasant and relaxed host coupled with an extensive knowledge of Mexican cooking, culture and history. We had a great time in her local market investigating, tasting and engaging with the local sellers. Returning to Lucia’s most beautiful home accompanied by an insightful “audio” tour of her neighbourhood. You certainly get a complete all-round experience and the opportunity to find out what makes Mexico City tick. The cooking experience is very engaging – and you can be as involved as you care to be so no pressure to demonstrate your own skills or knowledge – Lucia is very accommodating and keen to share her own passion and knowledge of the flavoursome and authentic food she prepares and best of all, you get to eat. It was just so satisfying in all respects and a massive thank you Lucia! Tony & Katie - Mar 2018 (London UK)."

"We booked a traveling spoon activity with Lucia de la Barra in Mexico City. She was extremely knowledgeable in cuisine, professional and so fun and friendly! It truly felt like cooking with family, if your family happened to be a world renowned chef! We made meatballs, tortilla soup, guacamole and acho sauce. She also was so sweet and let us try some of the other food she's prepared for her catering business. 11/10 would recommend and do again! We've already recommended her to our friends. Not to mention, she has the sweetest dogs and sous chef! It was such a joy to experience Mexico through her eyes! She has such a passion for the place, food and culture."

"Lucía made me feel right at home. She seemed invested in me tasting and learning how to make many different Mexican dishes. Cooking in her big kitchen was such a relaxing break from the city and the tourist grind. She taught me history through the food we made and she was lovely to get to know. I liked learning about her life and she was interested in learning from me too. She even gave me a ride to Diego Rivera’s museum nearby! A very sweet day. "

"11/10 would recommend Lucia de la Barra! She is sweet, kind, generous and very very talented. We were late on arriving but she didn't pressure us or rush the cooking along. She truly went out of her way to ensure that Tucker and I had a wonderful experience and got to try a vast number of her specialities, from the snacks to the tequila to the homemade granola she whips out! Not to mention the actual meal itself! It was flavorful and bold and just wonderful to get to meet and share an experience with someone who has a lot of passion for what they do !"

"Lucia is wonderful and, honestly, I think the cooking class in her home was the highlight of our trip to Mexico City. She has a beautiful home with an amazing garden (where we picked herbs to use in our meal and lime leaves to make tea). she's so knowledgeable about Mexican culture, cuisine, and history - and is a great teacher. I'm vegetarian and she was fantastic about accommodating - we did both meat and veg dishes (and learned even more!). We also met her family which was really nice - we were able to chat, get to know them, and really begin to understand the culture of the place. I couldn't recommend her class more highly. Lucia - we hope to see you again soon! x"